While IT's possible to play back movies on your iPod, most people don't because the small screen can be a strain on the eyes. This new pair of 'eye glasses' will not only relieve the strain on your vision, but also allow you to enjoy your movies like you're sitting at home watching them on a large television set. The myvu personal media viewer from MicroOptical Corporation looks like a pair of cool sunglasses, but is really a new way of viewing content from computers. Inside each 'lens' of the myvu are tiny displays positioned squarely in front of your eyes. Because the screen is so close to your eyes, they appear much bigger, giving the equivalent viewing angle of a 30-inch TV inside an average room. There are also built in earphones that fit snugly in each ear for stereo sound. Obviously, myvu will greatly extend the usability of portable devices by eliminating the restriction of display size. On the other hand, the experience is far less immersive than you would imagine. The thin 'lens' of the myvu means that you will be able to see above and below the unit when wearing them. This is good when you need to be aware of your surroundings, like on a public train, but lessens the enjoyment when you want to be completely 'inside' a movie, or more pertinently, a video game. The myvu viewer connects to most devices that support a line-out cable, including iPods, media players, computers and portable DVD players. For power, the myvu viewer uses an external battery pack consisting of three AAA batteries, which connects to one of the arms of the unit. Battery life is good for at least three movies, according to the company. The myvu personal media viewer is available only from online merchants for a list price of US$269. Google it and you will find it. PROS: big viewing screen for small devices, integrated sound, lets you see surroundings during use CONS: no wireless, not immersive
